swollen stomach

[mishhd]

My dogs stomach has swollen and is filled with fluid, i have been to the vets who thought it might be to do with her liver not functioning, but all blood tests have come back normal.  The vets havn't a clue what is wrong with my dog, she stopped eating, they have give her medicine to go to the toilet and heart medicine, and also some steroids to stimulate her to eat, she has eaten some chicken today and seems to have perked up a bit, but she is still full of fluid.  If the vets don't know what is wrong with her I don't know what to do.

She is a staffordshire bull terrier, i don't know much about her life before i had her, I found her 10 months ago, when I first had her she used to wet on my bed and in her bed, but she stopped that, she was a very lively happy dog, it is horrible to see her this poorly.  Any suggestions on what this problem could be.

Many thanks

[Red931]

I am sorry to hear that your dog isn't feeling well. Did the Vet prescribe the heart medication after this visit or did she already have a heart problem? Some heart problems will cause fluid retention.

There was a thread a few weeks ago about a dog that had this same problem and turned out to be fine. I am going to look back and see if I can find it so that you can read it.

Keep checking back as Ghilly or some of the others will log on with suggestions. I know something about this but my brain is a bit scambled right now with other things.

Soon as I find the other thread I will post back.

[Red931]

I remember now, that other dog may have eaten something he shouldn't have. I am wondering why the Vet didn't drain the fluid from your dogs stomach because this could be caused by a tumor that can't be seen because of the fluid in the stomach.

Your dog also could have eaten something that has caused a blockage. The most important thing is to find the cause of the bloat as soon as possible as the dog's stomach could flip. You dog ate something today though so I don't know if you are at that grave of a situation.

Knowing more about the heart medication and why it was prescribed will help.

[Red931]

BTW: You may want to get the opinion of another Vet quickly if the stomach is too bloated.

[Ghilly]

Did the vet draw off any of the fluid to see what it is?  There is any number of reasons that an abdominal cavity can fill with fluid, many of them quite serious, and there are quite a few different types off fluids that it could be, so before any kind of diagnosis can be given, the vet needs to determine what the fluid is so that he can determine where it is coming from.  In other words, you can't treat it if you don't know what it is.

The fluid could be anything from blood to urine to lymphatic fluid, and the only way to tell is to extract some and have it tested.  The reasons for the fluid can be heart disease, liver failure, cancer, the list just goes on.  I can understand your vet going with a conservative treatment at the beginning because you could end up paying hundreds and hundreds of dollars for tests and it could turn out to be something simple.  But if days are going by with no improvement, I would take her back to the vet and start running tests so that if it IS something serious, treatment can be started NOW when there's a better chance of doing something about it, rather than allowing it to progress to where treatment may or may not be possible.  Another way to look at it, and I know you don't want to hear this, is that if it IS something that cannot be fixed, you can decide whether or not your dog has a quality of life worth prolonging, or is she hurting badly enough to consider relieving her of her suffering.  I am not trying to scare you, I'm just trying to cover all the bases because abdominal fluid in an older dog is not a good sign.

Please keep posting and let us know how your girl is doing.  I hope she starts to improve soon for you.

Ghilly

[mishhd]

thanks all for your comments, my dog is eating a lot more now and is even more livlier when going for a walk, however her stomach is still swollen.  The vets did drain 1 litre of fluid from her stomach but still could not see anything on the xray because she still had water inside her, they have given me water tablets, which do make her urinate more but, still swollen, she is a lot better in her self today.

I must admit my dog had a habit of licking the water out of the drain, i caught her doing it a few weeks ago, why she did it i don't know because i have fresh water in most rooms.

Fortunately I don't have to pay the vets for treatment as we are on benefits, so its not like they are doing lots of tests to cost me money.

The vet was totally flumuxed and even asked a senior vet for advice still to no avail.

She said to take her back if she wasnt eating still and they would do more tests.  All of the tests for organ failure with her blood came back negative.

Lets wait and see how she goes, as i say she seems a lot better in herself even stealing a chew of my other dog.

thanks again everyone

[Red931]

That is good news. I hope the fluid drains off and it was nothing to worry about.

[iluvmyboys]

My dog was not eating for a while we put in on NurtCal its a supplement and it helps them eat. Also try her favorite foods and see what happends. I would try another Vet just to be on the safe side good luck hope she feels better!!!

[mishhd]

as its the bank holiday on monday i will take her back to vets on tuesday, she was a little like her old self today, i have tried her with everything, and she is eating chopped ham and pork, and even indulted in some steak today, costing me a fortune but well worth it if she is eating.

Her stomach has swollen more again though, its scarey not knowing what is wrong, i will update you with what the vet says on tuesday, obviously if needed i will take her to the emergency vet before then, although you say take her to another vet, the one i go to has 10 vets there, and they are pdsa so they do their very best for the animals.

thanks again all

[Red931]

Please don't take this the wrong way, but that food you are giving her is going to make her condition worse. It isn't good in the first place, especially if any of it was fatty. Ham is fatty even if you don't see any fat on it.

Has she been on this kind of diet for a long time? If so, that may be the problem or what has led to a problem. Too much fatty foods will cause problems with the pancreas.

Please try to give her some proper food. I know that you may be giving her these foods because she hasn't been eating, but it will truely make matters worse.

[mishhd]

i am only giving her these foods because that is all she will take in, she did not eat for a whole week and this was the only thing she would try, i just wanted to get her strength back until i find out what is wrong, she was fab yesterday, but gone quiet again today, she was even running round the park, alas back to square one.

I will watch her over this weekend, then when she goes back to the vet on tuesday they will probably take her in again and see what they can do,

It is so horrible to see her like this, she is mainly eating cooked chicken, well she was but as i say this has only been for a few days.  I am a bit worried about feeding her dog food after what i read was in it, you can't win, What do you do if that's all she will eat, i can't starve her and the vet told me to give her chicken and maybe scrambled egg.

Before she was ill she used to eat dog food, and dog biscuits, and she loved them, but now won't even entertain it.

thanks again, i appreciate your comments seriously i do.

[Red931]

Chicken is fine as long as it is boiled. My dogs get boiled chicken mixed in with their regular food all the time. The Vet has said that boiled chicken is fine for them.

I realized that you were probably giving her these foods because she was not eating and I said that, but these other fatty foods will make her conditon worse, I am sure of it.

It can be very dangerous for her to have bloat for too long a time period. If she continues to decline or fails to improve today you may want to take her to a 24 hr. Animal Hospital to have all of the fluid drained off so a diagnosis can be made.

As Ghilly stated, there are so many things that could be causing this and some of them are quite serious. If she is unable to eat much longer she is going to run into more health problems.

I am very sorry that you and your dog are going through this. Dogs can improve and decline in their health in a very short time and you are in a situation that is very tough right now.

[Ghilly]

I agree with Red.  If you have to feed her human food, please avoid things like ham because it is VERY high in salt and will not help her to get rid of excess fluids.  In fact, it will cause her to retain them.

If she will eat boiled chicken give her that until the vet can see her on Tuesday, but keep her away from anything with a lot of sodium in it while she's retaining that fluid.

Ghilly

[mishhd]

I am not giving her lots of the ham, I am trying to give her little bits at a time, as that is all she will eat and will not touch anything else, i do give her chicken more so if she will take it, she is still able to go out for a walk,  I know they will admit her on Tuesday as thats how long they have give me tablets for her, she is no different in herself than she has been for days, they have give her steroids to help her with her eating, she still pinches the chews off my other dog, so she has got the devil in her.

Hopefully on tuesday they can perhaps make some progress, (do I want to know thats what worries me).  I am cherishing every moment with her incase she is very ill and i have to make that decision I dread.

I am a level headed person, who loves my animals and no when i have to make decisions.  But when vets arn't sure what is wrong its difficult.  They said they will take her in and xray her again to see if they can see any mass growing, but the tablets given to me don't seem to have done her any good, she is still swollen, she looks like she is ready to have puppies.  My husband thought it was a phantom pregnancy, but it has been going on for too long now,  Thanks for your advice but what do i do if that is all that she will actually eat, i can't starve her.  Thankfully she is drinking and is not dehydrated, then i would be at the vets like a shot.  But I really think tuesday will be fine as there is no real difference to the way she is.

The thing I think it might be is some kind of blockage, as she can't go to the toilet, so will keep you informed and let you know what they find.

thanks again for your concern.

[TXschnauzerlady]

One of my dogs had a false pregnancy and my vet said there was no way to end it, you just have to wait it out, sometimes for a long time.  What finally brought her out of it was her daughter having puppies and she got in the box and helped nurse the puppies.  Never having heard about false pregnancy in dogs (I had one myself) I really thought she was pregnant with a lot of puppies but it just went on too long.  A dog of mine now has a swollen belly and I'd swear she's pregnant but she's spayed.  That's what I'm researching now.  No pain, no difference in behavior, eating fine.  She is being treated for urinary tract infection, her urine smells terrible so I'm wondering if she's going into kidney failure related to the UTI.  I'm also wondering if a spayed dog can have a false pregancy, she's a retired breeder, close to 8 years old.  I'm going to get her to my vet after the weekend.

[TXschnauzerlady]

One of my dogs had a false pregnancy and my vet said there was no way to end it, you just have to wait it out, sometimes for a long time.  What finally brought her out of it was her daughter having puppies and she got in the box and helped nurse the puppies.  Never having heard about false pregnancy in dogs (I had one myself) I really thought she was pregnant with a lot of puppies but it just went on too long.  A dog of mine now has a swollen belly and I'd swear she's pregnant but she's spayed.  That's what I'm researching now.  No pain, no difference in behavior, eating fine.  She is being treated for urinary tract infection, her urine smells terrible so I'm wondering if she's going into kidney failure related to the UTI.  I'm also wondering if a spayed dog can have a false pregancy, she's a retired breeder, close to 8 years old.  I'm going to get her to my vet after the weekend.

[mishhd]

none of the meat i give the dog is fatty, all lean.

[Red931]

I think it is a blockage as well, but you never know. The Vet can drain off all or most of the fluid to see what it is. I hope a diagnosis is made today and it is a treatable one.


Good Luck. Please let us know how she is doing.

[mishhd]

well everyone its not the news i wanted to hear.  The vet took one look at her and said it is more than likely a tumour, he doesn't want to open her up as he will probably not bring her back round again, he has basically told me to take her home make her comfortable and when i feel she is struggling then the decision has to be made, i asked if she was in pain, and he didn't think she was too bad, so will have a few days with my gal, then make that decision for her to go to my mum and dad in heaven.  Oh my god i am so upset, she is such a lovely dog.

Thank you all for your advice and i really wished it was going to be a better outcome, although deep in my heart i knew, just didn't want to knowl

thanks again all

xm

[Red931]

I am very sorry to hear that. Do you want another opinion? I am asking because you said earlier that all her bloodwork was good and her liver function panel was normal.

Does he think the tumor is located in the stomach?

[mishhd]

He said dogs don't swell like this unless it is very serious, I don't want her to go through exploratory surgery just for her to die on the table,

A fair few vets have seen her now, the thing is I don't know if she is an old girl or not, her stomach is enormous.  If she is old it could kill her anyhow.

I know in my heart and soul it is something very serious, she is so thin except for this enormous stomach,. her neck is like a puppies neck, how can i watch my baby suffer any more, i know i have to make that dreadful decision soon, just plucking up the courage to do it, as i am being very selfish to let her suffer any more of this.

I don't want to do tests and tests, she was on the table yesterday and she was so scared, she was shaking my only hope is she will pass peacefully at home with me, i can handle that a little better.

Its hard to take advice from anyone who hasn't seen her, the vet that saw her yesterday was lovely, very compassionate, he is one of the best vets at the centre.

can't let her suffer you no. xm

[happydog1]

I'm so sorry about your dog. I am kind of going thru the same thing with my 10 year old lab. She has a very swollen stomach and blood was mixed in her poop. Got a full panel of blood work done last week and her calcium level was high along with a few other things. The vet thinks it is  lymphoma(she would need another ultra-sound to know for sure and the one she had last year was inconclusive, as she was so scared and panting so much) It did show she had a thickening of the stomach lining, but she was in the emergency vet for pancreatitis and they couldn't tell if it was inflammation or a mass. She's on prednisone and she doesn't seem to be in any pain at all, at least not yet. My dog is like a child to me. Just keeping her happy for now. and if I know that the end is very very near I will feed her the biggest steak I can buy because she hasn't had anything except very healthy food since her pancreatitis. You are in my prayers.

[DUKE2008]

Just reading this forum really sorry to read about your dog I hope she will pull through x

[xcharged]

Sorry to hear about your baby. Hope she's okay. My border collie hailey had a swollen stomach due to cushions disease.

[shell406]

Hi There
Can anybody enlighten me....my dog has fluid in his abdomen, the vet has advised me today he also has low protien and suspects kidney or bowel problems. He has had an xray and scan as well as blood tests which are all fine...Vet seemed to think it could be v. serious..have to go back for results on friday...v.upset can anyone put my mind at rest!!

[dominickvp]

My dog had the same thing a big belly and two dumd vets said she had a tumar with out even taking an xray ,thank god i did not liston to them i left my small town of  (dumb vets ) and drove 2hrs to tuffs animal hosp-in boston ma, thank god!!!!! they saved her life she had a bacterial stomach infection thats it /she got some meds and is now good as new while the dumb vets in my small town told me i should put her down so she wont suffer/ Please PLEASE!! fight for her life like i did. do what you have to do period.if i had listened to my town vets she would not be here with me today and as i right this to you i am a man in tears :-(   just thinking what would have happend to my beloved dog i love her like my child she is my best friend, PLEASE DONT JUST TRUST ANY VET JUST BECAUSE HES A VET ! FIGHT FOR HER LIFE YOU WONT BE SORRY /goodluck

[brad909]

I had a 3 year old beagle, she had a swollen stomach and it turned out to be a tumor, the vet xrayed her and couldn't see anything that hinted to it being a sold object that was stuck in her stomach, just a haze in that region... she was being sick every day and her perfomance on walks reduced to just going outside a few meters...they operated on her and said the tumor had taken over her stomach, grew through her intestines, into her kidneys and lym nodes... there was nothing they could do, not even with all the money in the world, they said it was the most aggressive tumor they had seen... The vets diagnosed her with Gasterentiritious (perscribed antibiotics but she just kept sicking up lumps of mass), and also the vet thought she was Anorexic...

For anyone who reads this, the early warning signs for stomach tumors:-

Reduced perfomance in walks, sicking up bile, funny with food (any food like there favourite food), agression with other dogs (if not in thier nature), swollen stomach, dehydrated stools and sleeping in one spot all day.

[mowielee]

I have a puppy with the same condition. Can you tell me what happpened to your puppy?

The vets have determined it is a heart condition, but we are still looking into treatment options.

Thanks